Survival Tale on a Deserted Island: I and Airline Stewardess

50.Keep out the cold

We were dressed in summer clothes and completely unprepared for the cold. The cave provided some relief, but outside, the chill made us shiver.

It seemed like winter was approaching on this island, and it was coming aggressively. I felt extremely worried; without proper warmth, the girls would likely fall ill soon. Their bodies were not as resilient as mine, and falling sick could be dangerous for them.

Where could we find warm clothing? It appeared that I needed to hunt for some fur-bearing animals as soon as possible, and preferably larger ones!

With firearms in my hands, this task was not impossible. However, it didn't mean I had no reservations. Aside from the limited ammunition, I dared not use firearms casually.

After breakfast, with a heavy heart, I stepped out of the cave into the muddy surroundings. Following the routine, I first went to the forest near the beach to check if the tide had receded. After two days of heavy rain, I had little confidence in the tide, and going there was just a formality. To my surprise, however, the tide had indeed receded!

Though not entirely gone, more than half of the submerged areas were now exposed. Standing on higher ground, I observed that the terrain near the wreckage of the plane was lower and still submerged. But the southern shore where we woke up earlier had the tide receded, closer to the beach.

If I swam a bit, I estimated I could reach the suitcase hanging from the large tree. This filled me with delight; considering the cold weather, retrieving the clothes from the suitcase was like a timely blessing. However, as I approached for a closer look, I felt extremely disappointed and saddened—the suitcase hanging from the tree was gone! I guessed it had been washed away by the sea.

On second thought, it seemed reasonable. I had hastily thrown the suitcase onto the tree, and it wasn't securely hung. With so many days passed, it must have been washed away by the seawater.

"I still have to hunt for fur-bearing animals. I saw foxes on the island, but they are cunning and challenging to hunt. I need to find some other large animals..." I contemplated, busying myself in the forest after the tide receded.

With the ebbing tide, some fish, crabs, and eel-like marine creatures were stranded in the forest. After walking a few steps, I found several large and plump crabs, and even a grouper fish! The grouper is one of the most valuable edible fish, often referred to as the "chicken of the sea," and wild grouper can fetch prices of nearly a hundred yuan per kilogram. It is low in fat, high in protein, and has high nutritional value.

These discoveries filled me with immense joy. It was like a generous gift from nature! I regretted bringing everyone along; I got a bit carried away in the excitement.